Concealed type hinge



Jan. 18, w JEWELL CONCEALED TYPE HINGE Filed'July ll 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l inventor: William R. Jewell,

His Attorneg.

Jan. 18, 1955 w. R. JEWELL 2,

CONCEALED TYPE HINGE Filed July 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5.

Inventor: William P. Jewell,

b m4. 424mg His Attorn eg.

United States Patent CON CEALED TYPE HINGE William R. Jewell, Erie, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application July 11, 1951, Serial No. 236,157

8 Claims. (Cl. 339-4) My invention relates to hinge structures for cabinet doors and the like, and has particular reference to refrigerator cabinet doors having some sort of electrical element, such as a butter conditioner, clock, illuminating fixture or the like mounted thereon.

It is common practice in the case of household refrigerators to provide the interior portions of the cabinet space with some sort of auxiliary element, such as a butter conditioner or illuminating device, which is operated by electrical energy. It is frequently desirable, particularly in the case of buter conditioners, to mount this element on the inside surface of the cabinet door. It then becomes necessary to extend an electrical conduit from the other portions of the refrigerator to the element mounted on the door. In the usual case this electrical conduit or lead wire is arranged so as to be clearly visible when the door of the cabinet is opened, and such an arrangement has the disadvantage of tending to mar the over-all appearance of the refrigerator. It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a cabinet door of this type with an improved concealed hinge constructed so as to provide a passage or sleeve for the electrical conduit leading to the cabinet door.

It is another object of my invention to provide a hinge structure of this type including an improved arrangement for sealing the passage to minimize passing of air and moisture therethrough and for avoiding damage to the conduit.

It is another object of my invention to provide a cabinet door with an improved hinge constructedso as to conceal an electrical conduit extending from the main portion of the cabinet into the door, and arranged so that the hinge itselfis substantially concealed from view.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be come apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a refrigerator cabinet provided with a door hinge embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the lower hinge for the cabinet door; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3.3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a front elevation illustrating a modification of my new and improved type concealed hinge; Fig. 6 is a top view of the modification shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a sectional view along line 77 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the indexing elements utilized in the modified hinge of Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is an elevation of still another modification of my concealed type hinge; Fig. 10 is a top view of the hinge shown in Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 .is an exploded view of the indexing elements utilized in the modification shown in Fig. 9.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings I have shown in Fig. l, .by way of example, a household refrigerator cabinet having a door .1 mounted upon the front portion of the cabinet for the purpose of providing access to the interior or food storage space. This .door

' is mounted by means of an upper hinge 2 and a lower hinge 3, but my invention is concerned only with the lower hinge. The upper hinge 2 may be of any desired form. By way of example, I have shown as being mounted upon the inner portion of the door a butterconditioner 4 for the purpose of maintaining butter at the proper 0 the ear 14 engages the door stop 2,700,139 Patented Jan. 18, 1955 "ice temperature for spreading. During normal operation the temperature required for maintaining butter in spreading condition is somewhat above the temperature existing in the main portions of the cabinet storage space, and for this reason an electrical heating element (not shown) is provided for the butter conditioner. An electrical conduit or lead wire 5 serves to carry electric current from a machinery compartment 6 located in the lower portion of the cabinet to the heating element of the butter conditioner. It is to be understood that the electrical conduit or lead wire 5 is connected to a source of electrical energy at some point within the machinery compartment.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the general construction of the hinge 3, and the manner in which this hinge is mounted upon the cabinet. The entire hinge structure is mounted upon a bracket 7 secured to the lower portion of the cabinet and having an outwardly or laterally extending arm 8. A shaft or hinge pintle-9 is journaled in a bearing 8a contained in the arm 8. The upper portion of the pintle projects into the door 1, and the lower portion projects into the machinery compartment 6. The door 1 is supported upon the hinge by means of an annular shoulder 10 formed on the pintle. interposed between the shoulder 10 and the door 1 is a compressible sealing washer 1011 which may be formed from rubber, neoprene or some such suitable material. The washer 10a provides a seal between the door 1 and the shaft or pintle 9. The weight of the door 1 compresses the washer 10a between the door and the shoulder 10, thereby forming a very effective seal. The door 1 and the pintle 9 are arranged to prevent rotational movement relative to each other, so that as the door is swung to its openor closed positions the pintle rotates Within its bearing. This is accomplished by a reinforcing plate 11 positioned within and secured to the door 1 and formed so as to engage fiat surfaces 12'formed on the pintle.

For the purpose of limiting the opening movement of the door a stop washer 13 is mounted on the pintle at a point below the bracketarm 8, and includes an opening -mounted on the pintle, and also shows the operation of the car 14 and door stop 15 in limiting door movement. A recess 16. is formed in the reinforcing plate 11, and two sides of this recess engage the flat surfaces 12 prov1ded on the pintle. The solid lines of Fig. 3 indicate the position of the parts when the door is in its closed position. When the door is opened and rotated to its full open position the hinge pintle 9 and the stop washer 13 are correspondingly rotated. When the door has been moved through an angle slightly greater than 90 degrees 15 thereby preventing any further movement of the door. The broken lines indicate theposition of the parts when the door is in the full open position.

Referring now to Fig. 4, I have illustrated the manner in which the conductor 5 is carried from the lower portion of the refrigerator into the door and hence-to the butter through the shaft or pintle 9. As previously mentioned the upper portion of the pintle projects into the interior of the door and the lower portion projects into the machinery compartment in the lower part of the cabinet. The passage serves as a sort of sleeve for the conductor 5 and thus conceals the conductor from view.

I have also found it desirable to seal the open ends of the passage 9a to minimize transmission of moisture therethrough to the insulation space of the door and to avoid relative movement between the conductor and shaft for preventing adverse effects on the seal and damage to the conductor insulation at the shaft. In the preferred form of my invention this is accomplished by enlarged portions or grommets 17 and 18 formed upon the outer surface of the conductor or lead wire 5. The grommets 17 and 18 are adapted tohave a tight lit with the walls of the passage so that the entire passage is effectively sealed and the portion of the conductor in the shaft is caused to rotate with the pintle. These grommets can take on a variety of forms, but in the preferred form which is illustrated the upper grommet 1'7 is provided with an annular shoulder 19 which is of slightly greater diameter than the passage, and the lower grommet 13 is merely an enlarged portion on the conductor 5 adapted to be squeezed tightly against the wall of the passage. The conductor can then be threaded through the passage 9a from the top toward the bottom, and the annular shoulder 19 on the upper grommet 17 engages the upper edge of the pintle so as to position the lower grommet 18 within or in sealing engagement with the lower end of the passage.

The grommet 18 is preferably of slightly larger diameter than that of the passage but since the grommet is composed of rubber or other compressible material it may be drawn through the passage 91!, the grommet being squeezed tightly against the wall.

Referring now to Fig. 5 through Fig. ll I have shown two modifications of my improved hinge which utilize indexing surfaces for holding the cabinet door 1 in various open positions. Referring specifically to Fig. 5, the bracket 20 which serves to support the hinge structure is similar to the bracket 7 except that no door stop is provided.

The bracket 29 has a laterally projecting arm 21 containing a bearing 21a within which is journaled a pintle 22, this pintle being substantially identical to the pintle 9 previously described. Although the hinge of Fig. 5 has not been shown in position upon the cabinet it is to be understood that the bracket 20 is secured to the cabinet in the same manner as the bracket 7, and the pintle 22 is secured to the door in the same manner as pintle 9.

In this modification shown in Fig. 5 two relatively rotatable indexing surfaces are utilized. These surfaces are formed so as to permit the door to have a relatively free movement during the initial portion of its opening movement, and thereafter the surfaces are operative to hold the door in its open position. The rotatable indexing surface is in the form of a washer 23 positioned upon the pintle 22 and secured thereto. The nonrotatable indexing surface is carriedby a channeled washer 24 positioned upon the laterally projecting arm 21 of the bracket. In order for the indexing surfaces to function properly it is necessary to provide some resiliency, and therefore, spring 25 of the dished washer type which is held in place upon the pintle 22 by means of lock washers 26 is utilized.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the hinge of Fig. 5, and illustrates the manner in which the channeled washer 24 is positioned upon the arm 21.

As shown in Fig. 7, the pintle 22 is provided with a hollow passage 22a, corresponding to the passage 9a of the form shown in Figs. 1-4, for a conductor or lead wire from the lower portion of the cabinet into the door. It is to be understood that such a conductor will be positioned in the same manner as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The pintle 22 is provided with an annular shoulder 27 which supports the pintle within the bearing 21a of the projecting arm 21.

The members 23 and 24 which carry the indexing surfaces are illustrated in Fig. 8. The nonrotatable indexing surface which is formed upon the channeled washer 24 consists essentially of a ring 28 having two diametrically opposite raised portions 29 which form cam surfaces. The rotatable indexing surface is formed upon the washer 23 and comprises a ring 30 having two diametrically opposite raised portions 31. The pintle 22 includes flat sides 22b, corresponding to the flat sides 12a of the form shown in Figs. l4, and the washer 23 includes a central opening shaped to correspond to the shape of the pintle 22 and the flat sides 22b; hence, an opening movement of the door causes washer 23 to rotate. After the door has been moved through a certain angle the raised portions 29 and 31 engage each other. Continued movement of the door to the open position causes these raised portions to ride up and over each other against the action of the spring 25. With the raised portions in this position it can be seen that the door will be held in the open position. In order to close the door it is necessary to apply sufficient force to the door so as to cause the raised positions to ride back over each other against the action of the spring Washer 25. The spring washer 25 opposes the downward movement of the washer 23 and thereby opposes the movement of the raised portions over each other; accordingly, it is this sprin force which holds the door in the open position. It will be apparent that in the range of door opening where the raised portions 29 and 31 ride on each other the door is held in position by frictional engagement of the portions 29, 31 because of the biasing force of the spring 25.

In Fig. 9 through Fig. 11 I have shown another modification of my concealed type hinge in which indexing surfaces are utilized to hold the door in the open position. In this particular modification a bracket 32 is employed which is substantially similar to the brackets 24) and 7 previously described. This bracket is provided with a laterally projecting arm 33 within which is formed a bearing. A hinge pintle 34, which is substantially similar to the pintles 9 and 22 previously described, is journaled within this bearing. Like the modification shown in Figs. 5 through 8, the structure shown in Figs. 9 through 11 utilizes indexing surfaces, but unlike this previous modification one of the indexing surfaces, namely the stationary or nonrotatable surface, is formed integrally upon the lower face of the projecting arm 33. The rotatable indexing surface is carried upon the face of a washer 35 which is substantially the same as the washer 23. The washer 35 is mounted on the pintle 34 in the same manner as the washer 23 is mounted in pintle 22, and downward movement of the washer 35 is opposed by the belleville spring 36. The assembly is completed by the lock nuts 37.

In Fig. 11 I have illustrated the indexing surfaces utilized in this particular modification. The stationary or nonrotatable surface is formed integrally upon the lower surface of the bracket arm 33. This surface is provided with diametrically opposite raised portions 38. The rotatable indexing surface is carried upon the face of the washer 35 and also includes two diametrically opposite raised portions 39. These surfaces operate in the manner described in conjunction with indexing surfaces of Fig. 8, and serve to hold the door in the open position. As in the form shown in Figs. 5-8 inclusive, the door is frictionally held by the spring 36 in any desired position in the range wherein the raised portions 38 and 39 ride on each other. It is to be understood that the bracket 32 and pintle 34 of Fig. 9 are secured to the cabinet and door respectively in the manner described in relation to the other modifications of my invention.

While I have shown and described my invention with particular reference to refrigerator cabinets it is, of course, possible that my new and improved hinge could be applied to other types of cabinet structures. I. therefore, do not wish to limit my invention to the specific structure shown and described herein, and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications which are within the scope and spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a cabinet structure having a door mounted thereon for opening and closing movement, a hinge for said door comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to the cabinet, a bearing in said bracket, a hinge pintle iournaled in said bearing and disposed in a vertical position, said pintle comprising a shaft having a longitudinal passage extending t-herethrough, a portion of said shaft being adapted to project intosaid door and another portion of said shaft being adapted to project into said cabinet, said pintle being adapted to rotate with and to support said door for swinging movement about a vertical axis. coengaging means on said shaft and said bracket for limiting the opening movement of said door, said means including a laterally projecting door stop formed on said bracket and a stop washer mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and having an outwardly upwardly projecting ear, and a conductor adapted for being connected to means mounted in an interior portion of said door, said conductor extending from. said interior portion of said door into said cabinet and passing through said passage whereby said conductor is concealed from view, and means sealing said passage and causing the portion of said conductor in said passage to rotate with said pintle.

2.. In a. cabinet. structure having a door mounted thereon for opening and closing movement, a hinge for said door comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to the cabinet, a bearing in said bracket, a hinge pintle journaled in said bearing and disposed in a vertical position, said pintle comprising a shaft having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough, a portion of said shaft being adapted to project into said door and another portion of said shaft being adapted to project into said cab net, said pintle being adapted to rotate-with and to support said door for swinging movement about a vertical axis, coengaging means permitting free movement of said door during the initial portion of an opening movement and thereafter operating to hold said door in the open position, said means comprising a n-onrotatable member including an indexing surface, and a rotatable member including an indexing surface mounted on said pintle for rotation therewith, said indexing surface on said nonrotatable member including at least one raised portion, said index-ing surface on said rotatable member including at least one raised portion disposed for engaging said raised portion on said indexing surface on said nonrotatable member only when said door is in said open position, spring means urging said indexing surfaces into contact, a conductor adapted for being connected to means mounted in an interior portion of said door, said conductor extending from an interior portion of said door into said cabinet and passing through said passage whereby said conductor is concealed from view, and means sealing said passage and causing the portion of said conductor in said passage .to rotate with said pintle.

3. In a cabinet structure having a door mounted thereon for opening and closing movement, a hinge for said door comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to the cabinet, a bearing in said bracket, a hinge pintle journaled in said bearing and disposed in a vertical position, said pintle comprising a shaft having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough, a portion of said shaft being adapted to project into said door and another portion of said shaft being adapted to project into said cabinet, said pintle being adapted to rotate with and to support said door for swinging movement about a vertical axis, coengaging means permitting free movement of said door during the initial portion of opening movement and thereafter operating to hold said door in the open position, said means comprising a nonrotatable member including an indexing surface and a rotatable member including an indexing surface secured to said pintle, said indexing surface on said nonrotatable member including at least one raised portion, said indexing surface on said rotatable member including at least one raised portion disposed for engaging said raised port-ion on said indexing surface on said nonrotatable member only when said door is in said open position, spring means urging said indexing surfaces into contact, a conduct-or adapted for being connected to means mounted in an interior portion of said door, said conductor extending from said interior portion of said door into said cabinet and passing through said passage whereby said conductor is concealed from view, said conductor having spaced enlarged portions formed thereon for engaging the end portions of said passage to seal said passage, said spaced enlarged portions causing said portion of said conductor in said passage to rotate with said pintle.

4. In a cabinet structure having a door mounted thereon for opening and closing movement, a hinge for said door comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to the cabinet, said bracket including a laterally projecting arm having a bearing therein, a hinge pintle journaled in said bearing and disposed in a vertical position, said pintle comprising a shaft having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough, a portion of said shaft being adapted to project into said door and another portion of said sh aft being adapted to project into said cabinet, said pintle being adapted to rotate with and to support said door for swinging movement about a vertical axis, coengaging means on said arm and said pintle for permitting free movement of said door during the initial portion of an open-ing movement and thereafter operating to hold said door in an open position, said means including a nonrotatable channeled indexing washer mounted on said arm and a rotatable index-ing washer mounted on said pintle for rotation therewith, said washers having coengaging indexing surfaces, said indexing surface on said nonrotatable washer including raised portions, said indexing surface on said rotatable washer including raised portions disposed for engaging said raised portions on said nonrotatable washer only when said door is in said open position, spring means for urging said indexing surfaces into contact, a conductor adapted for being connected to means mounted in an interior portion of said door, said conductor extending from said interior portion of said door into said cabinet and passing through said passage whereby said conductor is concealed from view, and means sealing said passage and causing the portion of said conductor in said passage to rotate with said pintle.

5. In a cabinet structure having a door mounted thereon for opening and closing movement, a hinge for said door comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to the cabinet, said bracket including a laterally projecting arm having a bearing therein, a hinge pintle journaled in said bearing and disposed in a vertical position, said pintle comprising a shaft having a longitudinal passage extending therethr-ough, a portion of said shaft being adapted to project into said door and another portion of said shaft being adapted to project into said cabinet, said pintle being adapted to rotate with and to support said door for swinging movement about a vertical axis, coengaging means on said arm and said pintle for permitting free movement of said door during the initial portion of an opening movement and thereafter operating to hold said door in an open position, said means including a nonrotatable channeled indexing washer mounted on said arm and a rotatable indexing washer mounted on said pintle for rotation therewith, said washers having coengaging indexing surfaces, said indexing surface on said nonrotata'ble Washer including raised portions, said indexing surface on said rotatable washer including raised portions disposed for engaging said raised portions on said nonrotatable washer only when said door is in said open position, spring means for urging said indexing surfaces into contact, and a conductor adapted for being connected to means mounted in an interior portion of said door, said conductor extending from said interior portion of said door into said cabinet and passing through said passage whereby said conductor is concealed from view, said conductor having spaced enlarged portions formed thereon for engaging the end portions of said passage to seal said passage, said spaced enlarged portions causing said portion of said conductor in said passage to rotate with said pintle.

6. In a cabinet structure having a door mounted thereon for opening and closing movement, a hinge for said door comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to said cabinet, said bracket including a laterally projecting arm having a bearing therein, a hinge pintle journaled in said bearing and disposed in a vertical position, said pintle comprising a shaft having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough, a portion of said shaft being adapted to project into said door and another portion of said shaft being adapted to project into said cabinet, said pintle being adapted to rotate with and to support said door for swinging movement about a vertical axis, coengaging means on said arm and said pintle for permitting free movement of said door during the initial portion of an opening movement and thereafter operating to hold said door in an open position, said means including an indexing surface formed integrally upon said arm and a rotatable indexing washer mounted on said pintle for rotation therewith, said indexing surface on said arm having raised portions, said washer including an indexing surface for contacting said indexing surface on said arm and including raised portions disposed for engaging said raised portions on said arm only when said door is in said open position, spring means for urging said washer indexing surface int-o contact with said indexing surface on said arm, a conductor adapted for being connected to means mounted in an interior portion of said door, said conductor extending from said interior portion of said door into said cabinet and passing through said passage whereby said conductor is concealed from view, and means seal-ing said passage and causing the portion of said conductor in said passage to rotate with said pintle.

7. In a cabinet structure having a door mounted thereon for opening and closing movement, a hinge for said door comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to the cabinet, said bracket having a later-ally projecting arm having a bearing therein, a hinge pintle journaled in said bearmg and disposed in a vertical posit-ion, said pintle comprising a shaft having a longitudinal passage extend- 'ing therethrough, a portion of said shaft being adapted to project into said door and another portion of said shaft being adapted to project into said cabinet, said pintle being adapted to rotate with and to support said door for swinging movement about a vertical axis, coengaging means on said arm and said pintle for permitting free movement of said door during the initial portion of an opening movement and thereafter operating to hold said door in an open position, said means including an indexing surface formed integrally upon said arm and a rotatable indexing washer mounted on said pintle for rotation therewith, said indexing surface on said arrn having raised portions, said washer including an indexing surface for contacting said indexing surface on said arm and including raised portions disposed for engaging said raised portions on said arm only when said door is in said open position, spring means for urging said washer indexing surface into contact with said indexing surface on said arm, and a conductor adapted for being connected to means mounted in an interior portion of said door, said conductor extending from an interior portion of said door into said cabinet and passing through said passage whereby said conductor is concealed from view, said conductor having spaced enlarged portions formed thereon for engaging the end portions of said passage to seal said passage, sa id spaced enlarged portions causing said portion of said conductor in said passage to rotate with said pintle.

8. In a cabinet structure having a door mounted thereon for opening and closing movement, a hinge for said door comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to the cabinet, a bearing in said bracket, a hinge pintle journaled in said bearing and disposed in a vertical position, said pintle comprising a shaft having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough, aportion of said shaft being adapted to project into said door and another portion of said shaft being adapted to project into said cabinet, said shaft being adapted to rotate with said door, said shaft havingan annular shoulder formed thereon, said shoulder being adapted to support said door, a compressible sealing member positioned between said door and said shoulde'r of said shaft, said pintle being rotatably supported 'by said bracket, a conductor adapted for being connected to means mounted an interior portion of said door, said conductor extending from said interior portion of said door into said cabinet and passing through said hollow passage whereby said conductor is concealed from view, and means sealing said passage and causing the portion of said conductor in said passage to rotate with said pintle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 612,192 Chandler Oct. 11, 1898 1,133,454 B-anzett Mar. 30, 1915 1,702,614 Murphy Feb. 19, 1929 1,758,905 Brogden May 13, 1930 1,946,837 Clayton Feb. 13, 1934 2,091,824 Lewis Aug. 31, 1937 2,238,530 Lickteig Apr. 15, 1941 2,522,989 Carbary Sept. 19, 1950 2,534,779 Lane Dec. 19, 1950 2,665,414 Hubacker Jan. 5, 1954 

